What This Book Is Not

While this book is zealous about core ActionScript 2.0 and object-oriented programming, it does not cover every possible ActionScript- related topic. Specifically, you won't find much discussion of companion technologies, such as Flash Remoting or Flash Communication Server, nor will you find a dictionary-style Language Reference, as you do in ActionScript for Flash MX: The Definitive Guide (O'Reilly). Whereas that book describes the Flash Player's native functions, properties, classes, and objects, this book teaches you how to use those classes and objects, and how to fit them into your own custom-built structures. The built-in library of classes available in the Flash Player changed only incrementally in Flash Player 7, so ActionScript for Flash MX: The Definitive Guide , continues to be a worthwhile reference ”even to ActionScript 2.0 developers. It makes the perfect companion to Essential ActionScript 2.0 .

This book does not cover the Screens feature (including Slides and Forms), which is supported only in Flash MX Professional 2004. Screens are used to develop user interfaces visually (in the tradition of Microsoft Visual Basic) and to create slideshow presentations (in the tradition of Microsoft PowerPoint). Although the feature is not a direct topic of study, you'll certainly be prepared to explore Screens on your own once you understand the fundamentals taught by this text.

This book is also not a primer on programming basics, such as conditionals ( if statements), loops , variables , arrays, and functions. For a gentle introduction to programming basics in Flash, again see ActionScript for Flash MX: The Definitive Guide .

Finally, this book does not teach the use of the Flash authoring tool, except as it applies to application development with ActionScript 2.0. For help with the authoring tool, such as creating graphics or timeline animations, you should consult the in-product documentation or any of the fine third-party books available on the topic, including O'Reilly's own Flash Out of the Box , by Robert Hoekman, scheduled for release in the second half of 2004.